You should be able to find a K2 for sale used for roughly 2/3 (sometimes
more, sometimes less) of the retail kit and included modules price. This
discount probably reflects the fact that you really don't know how well it
was originally built, but thankfully the K2 is fairly forgiving of
variations
My situation is this, single income family with 4 kids. I have to save
for anything I want. I just got my ticket in June. I am currently not
on the air, but saving for a 2m mobile to get me started.
Realistically I can only save for one HF xcvr. I chose Elecraft based
on lurking on this reflector
You're going to get twice as many replies as there are people lurking on
this list, Lee. :-) In the end, the decision is yours but you can base
it on experience of others. Mine:
I have a KX1, K2/10, and K3/KPA500/P3. I built my K2, S/N 4398, perhaps
5 or 6 years ago, with the ATU. I bought
The K2 is all the radio the average CW op needs. The problem then
becomes what's average? If $$ is tight (been there, done that) and
you may want to migrate to SSB, then my suggestion is save your money up
for a K3, the current Queen of the Elecraft Fleet. The wait will be
worth it. In
Lee,
I would pick up a beginners HF rig from an old ham in the neighborhood for
cheap and save up for the K3.
Look around and find a couple Elmers where you live and see what they can help
you put a system together. Hang dipole and have some fun. A QRP rig could be a
nice option but
was $2025 I believe (ordered in
Dayton, May 2010). I have since added the KXV3A to interface with my MFJ noise
canceller.
73,
Art WB8ENE
-- Original Message --
From: Lee Herbst lcher...@gmail.com
To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2012 12:41:09
Lee,
I'm with Keith's immediate solution. Waiting a year or two to get on the
HF is a long time. There are plenty of seasoned hams with HF gear
collecting dust that'll get you on the HF bands. In my area it is not
uncommon to get a loaner HF rig or one at a very reasonable price.
You'll be On
budget and want a barefoot rig (100 watts) - I would
opt for a K2/100. I can swap out the PA deck for Field Day QRP in 5 minutes.
My 2 cents
Ariel NY4G
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2012 12:41:09 -0400
From: lcher...@gmail.com
To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
My
I agree with Keith's comments, but I'll contribute my two cents' as well.
My background, such as it is -- I got my ticket about 20 months ago,
spent 4 months just on 2 meters, and got my K3 a year after I got on
HF.
That experience leads me to point out four things:
1. Used rigs are widely
Rather than a traditional G5RV antenna, you might want to look at a ZS6BKW,
which is an updated version of the G5RV optimised using computer modelling
techniques that were not available when the G5RV was first designed:
http://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/ZS6BKW.pdf
73, Matt VK2ACL
On
: Lee Herbst lcher...@gmail.com
Sender: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2012 12:41:09
To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
My situation is this, single income family with 4 kids. I have to save
for anything I want. I just got my ticket in June. I am currently
Lee...
Welcome to the hobby and to Elecraft. Several years ago I assembled K2 #
5957 and immediately added the SSB, noise blanker, DSP and 100W modules.
This past spring I put together K3 #6232 with the 100W module and three
additional filters. I chase DX, operate contests [casually], and rag
VR2XMC
寄件人︰ Robert G. Strickland rc...@verizon.net
收件人︰ elecraft@mailman.qth.net
傳送日期︰ 2012年08月9日 (週四) 10:40 AM
主題︰ Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
Lee...
Welcome to the hobby and to Elecraft. Several years ago I assembled K2 #
5957 and immediately added the SSB
Hi Bert,
I have both the K2 and K3. I also operate almost 100% CW and in a casual
manner. I don't contest but, I work a lot of QRP. I had the same question
before I bought the K3. So, to answer your question based on casual
operating, I would say that there is little difference. I seem to
I'm contemplating replacing my K2/100's desktop companion, a Ten-Rec Jupiter,
with a K3/100. I operate 100% casual CW.
Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal to or better than that of the K3,
additional bells and whistles notwithstanding?
Vy 73 de Bert
WA2SI
...and all the pieces
Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal to or better than that of the
K3, additional bells and whistles notwithstanding?
Bert - There probably are some people, but if so they have never operated a K3.
I have had a K2 as
well as my K3 and in my opinion there are only 3 advantage of
have the bragging right of having almost
as good a receiver as a K3 which you soldered together.
See the ARRL and Sherwood specs on the Elecraft page.
Ariel NY4G
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:11:52 -0500
From: wa...@arrl.net
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs. K3 Rcvr
I'm
. Lester Freamon, BPD
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4GLTE smartphone
- Reply message -
From: Rick Stealey rstea...@hotmail.com
To: wa...@arrl.net, elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs. K3 Rcvr
Date: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 06:21
Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal
Bert - From a purely technical / functional standpoint (i.e. numbers), and
aside from current drain and bells/whistles, the K3's receiver has the
edge, and I think most would agree.
The K2's receiver is superb, and I occasionally try to make it my only rig
by putting the K3 aside for a few days
I'm wondering if we took a ham into a room, blindfolded, sat him or her down
if front of a K2 and K3, didn't let them touch either one, if he or she could
tell which is the K2 and K3? I would have to be someone that doesn't have any
experience with either one. I wonder which one would win
Gary and All,
Well, interesting conjecture, but nowhere close to a valid
test of either rig.
Dave W7AQK
- Original Message -
From: Gary D Krause n7...@bresnan.net
To: Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 8:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 ?
I'm
John Jeffers wrote:
Hi
I looked through the Archives and FAQ's and see the K3 is a All in one
rig with top of line features.
The K2 was the former one. With a little less features and not all in
one processor. It uses pic 18C452 instead of 18F452 etc so you can't
flash upgrade it
And they sold quickly from the beginning. My K2, purchased in April of 2000,
is S/N 1289.
At that time they had a 30-day order backlog.
Ron AC7AC
-Original Message-
Bob's comment is correct. I was at that meeting also, and was absolutely
blown away by the performance in such a
Hi John,
I noticed your inquiry on the Elecraft reflector this AM.
I own both a K2/100 and a K3/100. I have built three K2's and my K3/100.
Depending on your interests the K3 is superior,
especially the receiver. The k2 was primarily designed as a CW rig and lacks in
SSB output. The VOX
-Original Message-
... the K3 is a All in one rig with top of line features.
The K2 was the former one.
But I can make a qrp rig for $770 K2 kit instead of $1400 K3 semi-kit
and I am an electrical engineer.
Is there any good reason to go to the K3?
VE3GYV John
--- On Thu, 3/12/09, Darwin, Keith
keith.dar...@goodrich.com wrote:
From: Darwin, Keith keith.dar...@goodrich.com
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 ?
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 11:03 AM
-Original Message-
... the K3 is a All in one rig
yes guys,
the K3 is a great rigg, with all the features we knew from oher great riggs.
But the K2 is classic and puristic. It is the same when you compare
motorbikes: the K3 is like a Honda Goldwing and the K2 is like a older
Harley. I for myself prefer riding a old Harley. I built 4 K2's and
As much as I love my K3, I'll admit that the K2 sounded better. The
difference wasn't big and I may be off-base, having not done a direct
A/B comparison, but I think the K2, with its simpler RX architecture,
has a smoother sound than the K3. Not enough for me to stay with the
K2, but enough that
John and other Elecrafters:
I am an extremely happy K2 owner. I have operated a K3 and I intend to
get one someday, but I am not in a particular hurry. In the interest of
full disclosure, I am strictly a CW guy, and any voice quality
advantages that K3 might have over the K2 are lost on me.
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 ?
yes guys,
the K3 is a great rigg, with all the features we knew from oher great riggs.
But the K2 is classic and puristic. It is the same when you compare
motorbikes: the K3 is like a Honda Goldwing and the K2 is like a older
Harley. I for myself prefer riding
!
-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 11:29 AM
To: 'elecraft List'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
And they sold quickly from the beginning. My K2, purchased in April of 2000
, 2009 3:03 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 ?
As much as I love my K3, I'll admit that the K2 sounded better. The
difference wasn't big and I may be off-base, having not done a direct
A/B comparison, but I think the K2, with its simpler RX architecture,
has a smoother
To: 'elecraft List' elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 4:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
So for the discussion about K2 vs K3, I don't know much about either but
am
preparing to purchase. Is the K3 portable to any degree? One of the
things
that attracted me
The difference in price between a fully equipped K2 at $1230 and a
bare bones K3 at $1400 is $170, or slightly more than 10%. For that
extra $170 you get a better integrated rig, six meters, FM, 20 dB
better dynamic range, and a host of other features typical of top of
the line rigs. If
I must agree with Jim Duffey's assessment.
The K2 is a great transceiver, but when all the options are added to
make it an all band 160m through 10 meter transceiver with SSB and noise
blanker and audio DSP, the K3 with its built-in 160 meter through 6
meter coverage, built-in IF DSP which
Don Wilhelm wrote:
I must agree with Jim Duffey's assessment.
The K2 is a great transceiver, but when all the options are added to
make it an all band 160m through 10 meter transceiver with SSB and noise
blanker and audio DSP, the K3 with its built-in 160 meter through 6
meter coverage,
K5EWJ
--- On Thu, 3/12/09, John Jolley jjol...@columbus.rr.com wrote:
From: John Jolley jjol...@columbus.rr.com
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
To: 'elecraft List' elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 4:17 PM
So for the discussion about K2 vs K3, I don't know much
about
Hi
I looked through the Archives and FAQ's and see the K3 is a All in one
rig with top of line features.
The K2 was the former one. With a little less features and not all in
one processor. It uses pic 18C452 instead of 18F452 etc so you can't
flash upgrade it as easily.
(I program Linux
] On Behalf Of John Jeffers
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 5:02 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 ?
Hi
I looked through the Archives and FAQ's and see the K3 is a All in one
rig with top of line features.
The K2 was the former one. With a little less features and not all
You should get MANY interesting responses to your query! I for one have
found the K3 receiver to be far and above better than the K2, although my
time with the K2 was limited to one weekend. As well, if SSB is a mode you
enjoy, in the K2 that is an add-on and a bit dicier than the smooth,
Hi John,
Your post tells a lot about you. The first part is strong in EE and
Programming experience.
The last sentence says that you are a little lite in Ham experience.
Many of us on the Elecraft Reflector were raised on the K2. I
guess its been
about 8 years in
Here's my perspective from not owning any Elecraft radio until ~ a month ago. I
have read about the K2 for many years and always wanted one. I heard them on
the air and heard others comments about owning one. I have never owned a new
rig, only bought repair-ables and repaired them to use. So
Well, this is interesting! I'm agonizing over this very issue. I have
K2 #337, built in late 1999, that has served me extremely well. I have
always watched this reflector, so I was one of the first non-field test
people to notice Wayne's announcement of the K3. Then I read every word
about
I find building the k2 from scratch VERY much fun, and would not want to
miss out on it.
It really is an amazing radio, the whole package.
I enjoy building them so much I built two so far, plus a K1.
It does not have all the features some operators might want, but you build
it, its small, and
My opinion, keep the K3 the K2. You may later on regret selling
anything and then the money might not be there to build another one.
Just put it on the shelf for now.
Other options are the AN762 amp that FAR circuits sells a board for and
eBay has 2SC2879 transistor's for it and they are dirt
Actually Randy, all you have discovered... is that there are a lot of folks out
there, that could benefit from the addition of a K3 in their shack, so they
would be able to hear as well as you do. Simple, and factual. Do you need to
send your K2 or K3 away because they can't hear? Likely not.
:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
On Mar 11, 2009, at 4:53 PM, K2ZLS wrote:
Many of us on the Elecraft Reflector were raised on the K2. I
guess its been about 8 years in development.
More like 10+ years. I recall seeing Eric's presentation on the K2
at the 1999 Cactus Intertie
I have adjusted the RX EQ to alter the sound of the audio and in particular
when using the 1.0Khz filter.
I have now achieved a somewhat rich tone (to my poor old ears) that is
pleasant to listen too. I had no idea just how good I could make it when
using the 1.0Khz filter on ssb when I started
A comparison of the kit K2 vs the modular K3 has previously been made:
http://www.ac6rm.net/mailarchive/html/elecraft-list/2007-05/msg00837.html
If you add on the cost of a builder, shipping from the builder back to
you, then you have to REALLY want a K2 to cost-justify getting one
now.
Did
Welcome to the economics of SMT: tape and reel vs poly bags for kits,
relentless and unerring automated assembly and volume economics benefits of
the basic parts.
When added to the technical benefits of improved parasitics and thermals it
puts thruhole on the endangered species list.
73
jim
DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote:
Did Elecraft unintentionally put the K2 semi-official builders out to
pasture?
Doug,
That may likely be true that a fair price to build the K2 will cast a
shadow on the K3 kit price.
Comparisons are being made between an assembled K2 and the K3 kit price.
When
On 7/1/07, Don Wilhelm [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Comparisons are being made between an assembled K2 and the K3 kit price.
When you use the assembled K3 prices, there is still room for the
lower priced K2. the kit to assembled differential on the K3 adds $200
or more depending on the power
I doubt if it is SMT devices and auto-board
stuffers that made the economy of K3 what it is.
Electronic integration marches on. Remember the
Collins 75A4, or Heath Marauder? Now it is possible
to put just about everything, save the large L's,
into siicon. I suspect one bright engineer on
the
Most of the posts, so far, have dealt with the K2/K3 cost differential on a
basis of fun to build and production manufacturing economics. In the SMT vs
PTH/discreet component examples cited there was limited mention of the vastly
expanded capabilities and somewhat improved performance - not
In a message dated 7/1/07 5:55:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I doubt if it is SMT devices and auto-board
stuffers that made the economy of K3 what it is.
I think it is.
Electronic integration marches on.
Remember the
Collins 75A4, or Heath Marauder?
remember, not too many years ago (88),
having a meeting in a room at Bell Lab's Allentown
facility (or was it NJ) - and behind me on
the wall of that lab - which had a brass plaque
which read ... in this lab in 1953 (or whatever
the correct year was), the first transistor
IC was invented.
... which had a brass plaque
which read ... in this lab in 1953 (or whatever
the correct year was), the first transistor
IC was invented. Wow - time marches on!
1959, IIRC.
Actually, the transistor was born in the Labs in late 1947. It
became available at an affordable price to kids like
-Original Message-
From: Ken Kopp [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 21:10:30
To:elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 audio
From the posts I've read in the past there would seem to
be large differences in the amount of audio delivered by
a K2.
Perhaps those of you who
,
Steve Banks
K0PQ
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
-Original Message-
From: Ken Kopp [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 21:10:30
To:elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 audio
From the posts I've read in the past there would seem to
be large differences
From the posts I've read in the past there would seem to
be large differences in the amount of audio delivered by
a K2.
Perhaps those of you who service them or in some other
way have exposure to multiple K2's can comment.
Mine's speaker level ia completely adequate and can be
turned up far
My K2 (#5945) has tons of audio, both in the headphones as well as in
the speaker. My volume knob never gets above about 1/4-1/3 scale.
Jeff N6GQ
On 6/23/07, Ken Kopp [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
From the posts I've read in the past there would seem to
be large differences in the amount of audio
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